CANBERRA: Australian fruit exports have exceed $AU1billion for the first time within a calendar year, fresh vegetable exports have suffered drops in key markets of over 50%.
Wayne Prowse of Fresh Intelligence Consulting told Fresh Plaza that, between 2016 – 17, vegetable exports declined in key markets such as Indonesia, Europe and Taiwan.
“The main reasons for this decline is a drop in demand for onions from Europe, a return to normal trade to Taiwan after increased demand in 2016 due to the typhoons damaging local crops, and the swinging door of Indonesia’s import conditions,” said Wayne.
Although the volume of fresh vegetable exports declined 13 per cent overall the value increase 2 per cent to $AU252M as the mix changed with more higher value products being exported such as lettuce and broccoli.
Fresh vegetable exports from Australia are sent to a wide range of destinations. While Singapore and Japan had traditionally been the major destinations; four years ago the United Arab Emirates surpassed Japan to become Australia’s second largest fresh vegetable export destination.
Carrots remain the largest vegetable export at $AUD94M, followed by potatoes and onions.
In contrast fresh fruit exports in 2017 were up 15% on the previous year, bringing export totals to $AUD1.1B on 456,742 tonnes.
“There are a number of factors producing this improvement, including strong ongoing Asian market demand, favourable exchange rates, improved market access through lower tariffs from free trade agreements with China and Japan.”
“We know China continues to drive the most growth where Australia continues to capitalise on the increased demand for counter seasonal fruit.”
“The China growth off set a decline in trade to Hong Kong although the combined result is 83 per cent more than 5 years ago with China firmly in front.”
